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Early Adolescent Growth in Depression and Conduct Problem Symptoms as Predictors of Later Substance Use Impairment

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Abstract

Most studies of adolescent substance use and psychological comorbidity have examined the contributions of conduct problems and depressive symptoms measured only at particular points-in-time. Yet, during adolescence, risk factors such as conduct problems and depression exist within a developmental context, and vary over time. Though internalizing and comorbid pathways to substance use have been theorized (Hussong et al. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 25:390-404, 2011), the degree to which developmental increases in depressive symptoms and conduct problems elevate risk for substance use impairment among adolescents, in either an additive or potentially a synergistic fashion, is unclear. Using a school-based sample of 521 adolescents, we tested additive and synergistic influences of changes in depressive symptoms and conduct problems from 6th to 9th grade using parallel process growth curve modeling with latent interactions in the prediction of late adolescent (12th grade) substance use impairment, while examining gender as a moderator. We found that the interaction between growth in depression and conduct disorder symptoms uniquely predicted later substance use problems, in addition to main effects of each, across boys and girls. Results indicated that adolescents whose parents reported increases in both depression and conduct disorder symptoms from 6th to 9th grade reported the most substance use-related impairment in 12th grade. The current study demonstrates that patterns of depression and conduct problems (e.g., growth vs. decreasing) are likely more important than the static levels at any particular point-in-time in relation to substance use risk.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, including R01 AA018701 (awarded to Dr. McCarty), R01 MH/DA63711 (awarded to Dr. Vander Stoep), R01 MH079402 (awarded to Drs. Vander Stoep and McCauley), Seattle Children’s Hospital Steering Committee Grant and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Grant (awarded to Dr. Vander Stoep), and UW Provost Bridge Funding (awarded to Drs. Vander Stoep and McCauley). Portions of the analyses were presented at the biannual conference of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Vancouver, Canada. (March, 2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, M/S: CW8-6, P. O. Box 5371, Seattle, WA, 98145, USA

    Carolyn A. McCarty

  2. Department of Psychology, Ohio University, 200 Porter Hall, Athens, OH, 45701-2979, USA

    Brian T. Wymbs

  3. Boys Town National Research Institute for Child and Family Studies, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA

    W. Alex Mason

  4. Psychology Department, University of Washington, P. O. Box 351525, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA

    Kevin M. King

  5. University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, M/S: W-3636, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA

    Elizabeth McCauley

  6. VA Medical Center, Box 358280 – S116 – ATC, 1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA

    John Baer

  7. University of Washington, 6200 NE 74th Street, Suite 110, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA

    Ann Vander Stoep

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  1. Carolyn A. McCarty
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McCarty, C.A., Wymbs, B.T., Mason, W.A. et al. Early Adolescent Growth in Depression and Conduct Problem Symptoms as Predictors of Later Substance Use Impairment. J Abnorm Child Psychol 41, 1041–1051 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-013-9752-x

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